Romanian coach Edward Iordanescu, son of former national team coach Anghel Iordanescu, has been appointed Head Coach of the Romanian nation football team in an attempt to revive their chances to qualify for finals of either EURO or World Cup competitions.
The 43-year-old Edward Iordanescu will replace Mirel Radoi, who resigned at the end of 2021, after ending 3rd in the WC qualifiers.
Romania plays in the Nations League 2022-2023 in Group B3 against Finland, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro.
Edward Iordanescu played for several teams in Romania including: Unirea Focşani, Rapid, Petrolul Ploieşti and FC Vaslui. He also had some short international experience in Greece, and Cyprus with Panionios and Alki Larnaca.
He retired in 2004, and he immediately started to study to become a coach. He studied in Italy, Spain and England.
But his coaching career is not much different:
After Ilie Dumitrescu announced his resignation, FCSB’s assistant Edi Iordănescu took over as interim coach, this being his first contact with the Romanian football, but his first full job as a head coach was in the 3rd Romanian league, leading Fortuna Brazi. He took the ownership of the team in January 2013, but resigned after having missed out the promotion.
On June 20, 2013, Iordănescu signed a contract with FCM Târgu Mureș, team from the 2nd League, with a clear target to advance to the 1st League, but he resigned in October 2013.
In December 2014, Iordănescu became coach of Pandurii Târgu Jiu. He reached the final of the League Cup, in the 2014-2015 edition, however he resigned one year later. On August 24th 2016, Iordănescu signed a contract with the Bulgarian team ȚSKA Sofia. On November 27th same year, Iordanescu resigned after a draw at home.
On June 8th 2017, he became the coach of the Astra Giurgiu team. Again, his contract was ended by mutual agreement on 2 April 2018. In June 2018, Iordănescu signed a three-year contract with CFR Cluj. He won his first trophy as a coach on July 15 when CFR Cluj defeated Craiova, 1–0 in the Romanian Super Cup.
In 2018, he was appointed head coach at CS Gaz Metan Mediaș. In June 2020, an agreement was reached with the management of the club from Mediaş on the termination of the contract.
He returned to CFR Cluj in December 2020. In the 2020-2021 season he won the first Romanian title with the team. He ended again his contract with CFR Cluj, just a few days after winning the trophy.
In August 2021, after winning the title with CFR Cluj, he signed a 9-month contract with FCSB but Iordănescu resigned only after three months during which the coach led the team for 10 matches in League I, with seven victories, two draws and one defeat. He resigned after entering into open conflict with owner Gigi Becali.
From January 2022, Iordănescu is the new head coach of the Romanian national team. He will guide his side in the third 2022–23 UEFA Nations League season.
Official: Edward Iordănescu is the new manager of the Romanian National Team! pic.twitter.com/6i3DvOEkzq
— RO Football (@RomanianFoot) January 25, 2022
